Kansas State University Athletics
K-State Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2000
- Class:
- 1977
Gary Spani became the first Kansas State player to be inducted into the College
Football Hall of Fame in 2002. A member of the K-State Sports Hall of Fame (2000) and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (2004), Spani was Kansas State’s first-ever consensus All-America in 1977, and also was a three-time All-Big-Eight Conference selection.
Spani led the Wildcats in tackles three straight seasons and was twice named the team’s most valuable player. At the time of induction, he continued to dominate the Kansas State career record book as the program’s all-time leader in career tackles (543), assisted tackles (343) and assists in a season (110).
Following graduation in 1978, Spani was chosen in the third round of the National Football League draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He went on to play all nine years of his career with the Chiefs and led the organization in tackles four straight seasons.
Spani, who still works for the Chiefs organization, was named one of Sports Illustrated’s 50 Greatest Players of the 20th Century from the state of Kansas.
